TRY letting your child do things for 
himself. Let your child take off his 
own clothes, put on hats, carry small 
grocery items that won't break if 
dropped, or feed himself. 

OFFER your child choices whenever possible. This will let your child make decisions without defying you.

DON'T spank your child for being stubborn. Instead, try to be patient but firm. 

 Toilet training will most likely occur during this time. Remember that toilet training is a matter of maturity, and not all children mature at the same time. 

DON'T withhold toys or favorite foods until your child learns to use the potty. Sharing is a skill that will have to be developed during this time. 

 PRAISE your child when he shares, but don't yell if your child chooses not to share. 

DON'T lecture your child about the importance of sharing- it won't do any good. Show him by example instead. 

Safety Tips 

 Did you know that every month nearly 400 children under 4 years old die in the United States because of accidents? Most of these accidents can be prevented. 

Often, accidents happen because parents are not aware of what their children can do. At this age your child will walk, run, climb, jump and explore everything. This age begins the most accident-prone stage of his life. It is your responsibility to know that your child's next move might result in injury if he is not protected. 

Poisonings 

Your child will continue to explore his world by putting everything in his mouth, even if it doesn't taste good. He opens doors and drawers and loves to take things apart. He can open bottles easily now, so you must use safety caps on all medicines. 

He is now able to get into and on top of everything. He doesn't understand danger or remember "No" when he is exploring. Be sure to keep all household products and medicines up, up and away, completely out of his sight and reach. Never store lye drain cleaners in your home.

 If he does put something poisonous into his mouth, call your physician or Poison Center immediately. Know your Poison Center number. Have Syrup of Ipecac on hand to make him vomit, but use it only if directed to do so. 

Falls 

Even though your child is perfecting his walking skills, he will still fall. He is now beginning to climb and jump and run as well. A chair left next to a kitchen counter or table allows him to climb to dangerous high places. Lock the doors to any dangerous area. Use gates on stairways and window guards above the first floor. Remove sharp edged furniture from the room he is in. If your child has a serious fall, call your doctor. 

Burns 

The kitchen is a dangerous place for your child during meal preparation. Hot liquids, grease, and hot foods spilled on him can cause serious burns. A safe place for your child while you are cooking, eating, or distracted is his playpen or high chair. 

While your child is learning to walk, he will grab anything to steady himself, including things like hot oven doors or wall heaters. Keep him away from these dangers. 

Your child will reach for your hot food or cup of coffee, so NEVER leave them within his reach. NEVER carry your child and hot liquids at the same time. You can't handle both. 

If your child does get burned, put cold water on the burned area immediately. Then cover the burn loosely with a bandage or clean cloth. Call your doctor for all burns. To protect your child from scalds, reduce the temperature of your hot water to 120"-l 30"F. 

Drowning 

At this age your child loves to play in water. NEVER leave him alone in or near a bathtub, pail of water, wading or swimming pool or any other water, even for a moment. He can drawn in the most shallow water. Knowing how to swim does NOT make him water safe at this age. 

And Remember Car Safety 

Car crashes are the biggest danger to your child's life and health. The crushing forces to your child's brain and body in an accident or sudden stop, even at low speeds, are likely to kill or severely injure him. The ONLY way you can prevent these injuries or death is to USE a car safety seat EVERY TIME your child is in the car. 

Be sure you have changed over to a toddler car seat. Ask your doctor which seats are safe. The biggest threat to your child's life and health is an accident.